The Pink Floyd Appreciation Society will be performing “Dark Side of the Moon” during Blackout 2017: Great American Eclipse Party in historic downtown McMinnville.
“We are so excited about this,” said Main Street McMinnville executive director Katie Kemezis. “Pink Floyd Appreciation Society is out of Nashville and they are musicians who perform and celebrate all things Pink Floyd.”
Visitors to Main Street on Monday, Aug. 21 will listen to The Pink Floyd Appreciation Society performing “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety while enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime view of the dark side of the moon thanks to a total solar eclipse.
The Great American Eclipse, as it is being called nationally, is an extraordinary celestial event. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the sun’s, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into darkness.
The party is being offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Court Square, with the full totality occurring at approximately 1:32 p.m. The eclipse will last one minute and 50 seconds. Only a thin swath of the United States will be able to see the moon completely cover the sun, and McMinnville is uniquely positioned to see all of this extremely rare event.
Viewers are advised not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse without appropriate protective glasses. Eye damage could occur.
There will be 1,000 certified solar eclipse glasses available, says Kemezis.
“My only concern is that they are adult size and we might need smaller ones for the younger children,” she said. “We might have to look into that.”
Eclipse viewers will also enjoy a very special live music event with The Sound Machine spinning hits with a cosmic theme, live streaming of NASA coverage of the eclipse, and more.
Organizers intend for the event to celebrate astronomy and science of all types with astronomy-themed arts and crafts for kids and the Warren County School District’s STEM on Wheels trailer. Participating downtown merchants will feature an “After Dark” sale or novelty items in their stores.
The Pink Floyd Appreciation Society formed in 2000 as a group dedicated to celebrating the work, life, and legions of fans of Pink Floyd. Current band members are Chaz Howard, Dick Aven, Erik Helleman, J.D. Meek, Matt Reno, Ted Lessman and Mac Smith.
Blackout 2017: Great American Eclipse Party is a coordinated effort between Main Street McMinnville, McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information or how you can partner with the event, contact Kemezis at 506-5335.